Latest news with #BrianRobinson
NDTV
4 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Chilean Mine Rescue: When 33 Miners Were Buried Alive For 69 Days In Scorching Heat
On August 5, 2010, a catastrophic mine collapse in Chile's Atacama Desert trapped 33 miners underground, sparking a global rescue effort that captivated the world. Today, 15 years later, the story of their incredible survival is being remembered as one of the most dramatic rescue missions in modern history. The disaster struck the San Jose copper mine when a massive boulder - reportedly the size of the Empire State Building - collapsed within the shaft, sealing off access and trapping the miners half a mile beneath the surface. For the first 15 days, the men had no contact with the outside world, uncertain if help was on the way or if they had been left to die. Terrified and isolated, some of the men feared they were "trapped underground with the devil." Their survival was nothing short of miraculous - they had avoided certain death only because they were waiting in a large cavern for transport to lunch when the collapse occurred. Had they been inside the narrow tunnels of the 120-year-old mine, rescue would have been impossible. Above ground, their families clung to hope, not knowing if their loved ones were alive. The eventual rescue, 69 days later, was a feat of engineering and human spirit that continues to inspire. "All the mines in the Atacama Desert at that time were pretty unregulated, so it was a lot more dangerous than you would expect. It had been allowed to work with effectively a single entry, which means if there is a disaster, there was only one way in and out," Brian Robinson of UK Mines Rescue told The Metro. Trapped deep underground, the men survived on minimal rations and filthy water. With only the dim glow of their headlamps-used sparingly to conserve battery-they endured extreme heat and thick dust. In desperation, they drained water from vehicle radiators and drank moisture that seeped through cracks in the rock to stay alive.
Metro
6 days ago
- General
- Metro
Buried alive: How 33 men survived being trapped underground for 69 days
The terrified group men spent 15 days underground with no contact from the outside world. For more than two weeks, they had no idea if anyone was coming to get them, or whether they would be left to die following a catastrophic mine collapse in Chile's Atacama Desert. Some believed they were 'trapped underground with the devil' following the San Jose copper mine disaster, 15 years ago on 5 August 2010. And just as the miners were terrified they wouldn't make it out alive, above them, their families had no idea whether they had survived the collapse. The San Jose mine, a large shaft which zig-zags down into the earth, had been destroyed when a boulder the size of the Empire State Building collapsed, sealing 33 miners half a mile underground. Their lives had only been saved from the cave-in by the fact that they were waiting in a large cavern for the transport to arrive to take them up for lunch. Had they been within the tunnels of the 120-year-old colliery, the workers would certainly have died. 'All the mines in the Atacama Desert at that time were pretty unregulated, so it was a lot more dangerous than you would expect. It had been allowed to work with effectively a single entry, which means if there is a disaster, there was only one way in and out,' Brian Robinson of UK Mines Rescue tells Metro. Trapped underground, the men survived on basic rations and dirty water. They had what little light they could use from their head lamps, although they used it sparingly, and it was exceptionally hot and dusty. 'It would have been horrendous. They didn't know if they were safe, or if they would get out. They drained vehicle radiators for water and had to drink any coming into the mine, literally seeping through the layers of rock,' Brian says. Former miner and now a safety expert and trainer, Brian has had more than a few 'near misses' during his time underground. Miners, he says, accept it is a difficult and perilous job. 'It has to be done; it's how you provide for your family', he says – but San Jose was particularly dangerous. Eight miners had died underground there in 2000, and the works had been shut down after an accident in 2007, but reopened a year later. The miner's families, concerned that their men would be left to die underground, formed an encampment at the mine entrance, 'Camp Hope' gave media statements and lobbied the Government to help. For days, rescue teams found no way through, and many assumed the miners were dead, leaving families in torment. One of the men caught by the collapse was Ariel Ticona, a 29-year-old miner, who had heard rumbling and seen large cracks in the mine's ramp in the weeks before the collapse, but with two children at home and his wife Elizabeth expecting a daughter, he had no choice but to take the work. He lived on cookies, crackers and juice while trapped, drinking sour milk to sustain him. Ariel later told a CNN documentary: 'I felt helpless that I could leave this world without meeting my daughter…We would pray at noon every day, on the day my wife was due, I asked for a prayer so that everything would be okay'. Fellow survivor 56-year-old Jorge Galleguillos said: 'We lived with death, we slept with death.' The men took it in turns to sleep, working in shifts to maintain the mine, look for escape routes, and – vitally – keep up morale. They washed with water collected from dripping rocks in a cup. 'We knew that if society broke down, we would all be doomed. Each day a different person took a bad turn. Every time that happened, we worked as a team to try to keep the morale up,' miner Mario Sepulveda said. 'The air was so bad our eyes were burning the whole time. We were all coughing. It was like being in a filthy sauna where the air is full of dirt. We made beds by putting cardboard on the floor', he told the Daily Mail. Rations dwindled – on one day a tin of tuna had to be split 33 ways – and the men fell ill with sores and fungal infections. One miner, 31-year-old Alex Vega, lost 33lb and went temporarily blind. For 15 days, the workers heard nothing until a drill started to echo through the rocks. Two days later the probe broke through. The trapped men screamed: 'We are found!' They tied a plastic bag onto the equipment and painted a red cross onto the drill bit, along with a note stating ''Estamos bien en el refugio los 33″ – All 33 of us are well inside the shelter.' Up at ground level, Camp Hope erupted. Lilly Ramírez, the partner of miner Mario Gómez, was so overwhelmed that she fainted. However, there was a long way to go before the men could be brought home; no-one had ever recovered so many people from such a depth and probe footage revealed the scale of the problem ahead. The rescue was predicted to take months, and the workers would have to remain mentally strong while they waited. They found strength in daily prayer, and the miners decided that Ariel was to name his baby, due in September, 'Esperanza', meaning 'Hope'. Meanwhile, on land, three different rescue plans were being developed as engineers grappled with the challenging geology. The men were buried under andesite, a rock almost twice as hard as granite, company maps of the mine were inaccurate and drillers faced many obstacles and broken equipment. A rescue capsule – just 55cm wide – was to be sent down to haul the miners up, but it wasn't until October 9 – more than two months after the initial disaster – that the main rescue shaft was completed. In the early hours of October 13, from a tiny hole in the ground, miner Florencio Avalos emerged. He was fixed with a bio-harness to monitor his vital signs and sunglasses to protect his eyes. His seven-year-old son Bairon wailed at his arrival. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video As Florencio stumbled out of the capsule, he was embraced by his family, rescuers and Chilean President Pinera, and watched by millions of TV viewers around the world. Over the next few hours, all the miners were rescued, with foreman Luis Urzua the last to come up. It was a miraculous rescue and the miners were celebrated as heroes. After checks in hospital and time with their family, they were sent to Disneyland with their families, to Old Trafford to watch the football, to Greece for beach holidays and to the Holy Land for spiritual pilgrimage. After the rescue, Brian pored through hours of footage to see what could be learned from the disaster. Having recovered too many bodies from underground – he wants no-one to experience the trauma lived by 'Los 33'. Just last week, five miners tragically lost their lives after a shaft collapsed deep inside Chile's El Teniente mine – the world's biggest underground copper mine – following a 4.2 magnitude earthquake. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'When disasters like this happen, many don't survive,' explains Brian. 'It was big that everyone survived the Chile rescue. It spurred us on to think about how we manage future rescues and assist people. Just two weeks ago there was a disaster where workers were trapped [in a Canadian mine] and they were got out safely. 'The Chilean disaster has helped people think about how things happened, what went well, what went wrong, how can we change outcomes, how can we make things better,' he adds. More Trending Of course, living in the dark with the constant fear of death for 69 days, left it's mark on the men. They struggled with sleep and nightmares after being 'swallowed into the bowels of hell' in Mario's words. Alex suffered memory and concentration problems and Ariel left his house one day, returning a few days later unable to explain why he had gone. Carlos Barrios, the thirteenth miner to be rescued, ended up unable to work and was prescribed drugs to which he became addicted. While a Hollywood movie was made about the disaster, the men were left with deep psychological scars. Jorge told CNN at the time: 'I am alive, thanks to God, that's the important thing, but I should be doing better. I should be doing better.'For Mario, it was a lucky escape: 'I have been with God and I've been with the devil. I seized the hand of God.' MORE: 'It was a slap in the face when Ed Westwick got the role I auditioned for' MORE: I sold a bikini on a preloved site – now I'm wondering who bought it MORE: The disability employment gap affects 16 million people in the UK – but can the government fix it?
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Could Jacory Croskey-Merritt earn the Commanders' starting RB spot in 2025?
The Washington Commanders may have a new starting running back working his way up the depth chart to begin training camp. Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been getting reps with the starters during his first week of camp, making the most of each opportunity. Croskey-Merritt was a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Arizona, appearing in just one game during his final year of college. The rookie's legs look fresh, showcasing his explosiveness with every carry so far. Brian Robinson projects to be the starter in Washington to begin the regular season, but if Croskey-Merritt continues to impress, things could change very quickly. Before his year with the Wildcats, Croskey-Merritt showcased his ability to handle a large workload on the ground. In 12 games with the New Mexico Lobos in 2023, he ran for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns on 189 attempts. Despite Robinson currently controlling the starting spot in the backfield, the Commanders haven't been afraid to utilize a running back by committee in the past. Austin Ekeler projects to see the field in passing situations, where Croskey-Merritt could supplement Robinson's earlier-down work. Fans in Washington are quickly falling in love with how the rookie has begun his first training camp, garnering a lot of attention both on the field and in the media. Jayden Daniels' ability to keep defenses honest in the run game does wonders for any running back lined up beside him, and Croskey-Merritt is looking to take advantage of seeing less attention than ever. As a former zero-star recruit out of high school who had to begin his college career in the FCS, Croskey-Merritt has always been an underdog with the mentality to prove his doubters wrong. So far, to start training camp, he's been doing just that.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders Thrilled With Work Ethic From Brian Robinson Jr.
Commanders Thrilled With Work Ethic From Brian Robinson Jr. originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. is entering the final year of his contract. At 26 years old, the Alabama product knows he doesn't have many opportunities left to receive a massive payday. Advertisement It's why he's going all-out to try and help Washington win in 2025. A strong season from him would not just get the Commanders back to the playoffs, but would set himself up for a potential long-term deal afterwards. The Commanders understand Robinson's current contract situation. They also know he isn't the only runner playing for his future in 2025. Veteran Austin Ekeler is well past his prime as a 30-year-old dual-threat runner. He originally signed with Washington last season because they could offer him the ability to split carries with a player like Robinson. With both backs fighting for their future - and amid trade rumors that just won't go away - Washington has been pleased with what they have seen from both players during offseason workouts. Advertisement Robinson, in particular, has caught the eye of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. "B-Rob's a guy who has played an incredibly high level," Kingsbury said. "I thought early in the year when he was really healthy, he was what we expect him to be, and the focus this offseason has been great." Washington knows they have a strong collection of running backs. The duo of Robinson and Ekeler is in some ways as solid as any in the league. Both are looking for future deals past this season, though. If Robinson can build off his strong month of May, he'll be in for a breakout season. … One that Washington has been hoping to see for years. Advertisement A new contract - somewhere - would soon follow if so. Related: Steelers Trade for Commanders' Terry McLaurin A Rumor With New Aaron Rodgers Fuel Related: Commanders Star Gets Coach in Trouble After Intense Workout This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders Running Back Ready 'To Prove Who I Am' In 2025
Commanders Running Back Ready 'To Prove Who I Am' In 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Motivation for players can come in a variety of different forms, but for Washington Commanders' running back Brian Robinson Jr., being in the last year of his rookie deal is more than enough. Advertisement After three solid seasons in Washington, "B-Rob" developed into a staple of the offense, but with Dan Quinn and this new regime sweeping through the franchise, change has come, and it won't stop. Robinson Jr. is hoping he isn't part of that change next offseason, but there is one way to ensure he sticks around in the nation's capital – play well. 'That's been the goal since I stepped foot on this campus, is just to prove who I am to not only the program but to myself,' Robinson said. 'Biggest year to do that, just to continue to show who I am and what I'm about, and I'm excited to be able to continue along here and to show why I'm here and I'm supposed to be here.' Sep 8, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (8) runs with the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (3) defends during the second half at Raymond James Stadium.© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images With Robinson Jr. part of a running back room that includes Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols, he won't be getting all of the carries in Kliff Kingsbury's offense, and when you need as many as possible to prove you deserve a new contract, that can be problematic. Advertisement But Robinson Jr. has already shown what he's about on the football field - a bruising, tough, physical runner, who fits Quinn's style to a tee. Granted, he is yet to play a full season, but what better time to do it than when you have a contract to play for? The 2025 season looms large for a host of Commanders, but perhaps none more so than Robinson Jr. Related: Commanders Tease Position Change For Second-Year Lineman Related: Ex Commanders Receiver Can Help Save Former Top Pick This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
